Swingable jaw wrench



July 27, i954 Filed Feb. 1'?, 1950 U QUIK v. s.` L uNDELL 2,684,607

SWINGABLE JAW WRENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l lzllllilf Srwentor KVlctol'A Lundell i Gttorneg ,13'27 1954 v. s. LuNDx-:LL 2,684,607

I SWINGABLE JAW WRENCH Filed Feb. 17, 195o v 2 sheets-sheet 2 Snventor dell View S.Lun

Gttorneg Patented `uly 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWINGABLE JAW WRENCH Victor S. LundelLJamestown, N. Y. Application February 17, 1950, Serial No. 144,623

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in Wrenches and particularly to that type of wrench required to grip and turn round or irregular shaped parts.

More speccally, the invention is directed to a wrench having a pair of jaws relatively movable about fixed axes so as to securely grip and turn or rotate a round or irregular shaped part. Such wrenches rind particular application of use by plumbers who are required to have tools which will grip round pipe, irregular shaped couplings, plugs, caps, etc., and rotate such parts to effect threaded engagement or disengagement with respect to other parts.

An object of the invention lies in the provision of a plural jaw wrench in which a bodily movable jaw may swing about a pivot into or out of proximity with another jaw, that takes the form of a toothed wheel rotatable about a xed pivot.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a wrench in which a gear connection is provided for effecting rotation of a fixed pivot, toothed jaw by the pivotal movement of another. jaw.

Another and further object of the invention lies in the provision of a Wrench in which the gear connection between a rotatable xed pivot `iaw or wheel and a swingable jaw may be released to enable free rotation of the wheel to present different teeth for cooperation with the teeth of the swingable jaw.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specication, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a wrench embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a iront elevational View of the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational View of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side View of a portion of the wrench, parts being broken away to show the relative positions of the jaws when in operative engagement with a tubular part;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, showing the jaws in fully opened position, with the gear connection therebetween rendered inoperative and a spring in dead center position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of a modification, parts being broken away to show a rotatable fixed pivot jaw and its connection with a swingable jaw;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational View of the modification shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the modification of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral Il] is employed to generally designate a wrench embodying the invention. This wrench is shown to comprise a body portion I I, formed from a pair of opposed parts I 2 which, by reason of anged edges, cooperate to produce a hollow handle I3. Suitable pins or rivets I4 and IIE secure these parts together. The upper end of the body portion takes the form of a pair of spaced wings Il, each wing having forward and rearward extensions I8 and I8.

A swingable jaw 2| is located between the wing extensions I9 and secured for pivotal movement by a pin 22. One end of the jaw 2| terminates in a lug 23 that, during pivotal movement of the jaw, swings into or out of the space between the wings. The other end of this jaw is formed with a head 2li. The inner edge of this head is provided with sets of teeth 26 and 21, arranged at an angle to each other such as to adapt the jaw to engagement with parts of different size. The inner edge of the hub or central portion 28 of the jaw is formed with a series of teeth 29, the lower most tooth being substantially aligned with the pin 22. From this point, the hub curves inwardly to form the lug 23. A spring SI is mounted in the hollow body portion I I. This spring, for con- Venience, may be formed from a piece of U- shaped spring wire, the closed end 32 bearing against the lug 23. The spring has a loop 3ft through which pin I6 projects. The free ends 36 of the spring bear against the inner edges of the sides of the body I I.

Located between the Wing extensions I8 is the other jaw of the wrench which takes the form of a wheel 3'! that is rotatable about a xed pivot 38. The circumferential edge of this Wheel is formed with a series of teeth 3S which are of a shape and size to mesh with the teeth 29 of the hub of the jaw 2 I.

To operate, the handle IS is placed in the palm of the hand and closely gripped by the fingers. The operators thumb is then pressed against the edge :il of the lug 23 and, by the application of pressure, the lug is pushed inwardly of the body of the wrench, thus swinging the head of the jaw outwardly to an extent required to space the jaws for entrance of the part to be gripped. This movement of the jaw is against the tension of spring 3l and, as soon as the thumb releases pressure on the lug 23, jaw 2l swings into engagement with the part, causing it to bear against the teeth of the wheel 37. All self-gripping Wrenches must be operated in one direction.

J Consequently, when a wrench handle is swung to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and fi, the head of the swingable jaw 2i tends to move into pressure engagement with the part with which it is engaged. Any movement in this direction of this jaw, due to the geared connection between it and the wheel 3l, causes said wheel to attempt to turn slightly in the opposite direction and thus the gripped part is urged into engagement with all of the teeth of the movable jaw, this urging continuing as long as pressure on the handle is applied in the direction mentioned. After the part has been turned to a desired extent, the operator may depress the edge ii of the lug, thus releasing the grip o the swingable jaw and enabling removal oi the wrench from the part.

Inasmuch as the wheel 3l' rotates to force the part into tight engagement with the movable jaw, it is contemplated that the teeth thereof may be subjected to greater wear than the teeth of the swingable jaw. Also, it is evident that only a few of the teeth or" the wheel Si engage a rounded part, whereas many more teeth of the swingable jaw function during gripping the same part. At such time, in the use of the wrench, as the teeth i the wheel 3l become somewhat worn or dulled to the extent that they provide an insufli ient grip, it is possible to swing the movable jaw into an extreme opened position, such as illustrated in Fig. 5. The jaw will remain in this position due to the dead center position oi the spring 3l. in this position of the swingable jaw, the teeth 2Q of the hub 23 have moved away from the teeth of the wheel 3l' and this wheel is now iree to be rotated to an extent that when the jaws are brought into relatively operative position again, another series of teeth 3S will serve to engage a part located between the jaws. It will` be understood that the wear or teeth 3Q, although enough to eect the gripping qualities, is insufiicient to impair engagement with the hub teeth 2Q.

ln the manufacture of wrenches of the type to which the invention relates, it is not only necessary to provide a strong or rugged wrench, but also one that can be inexpensively manufactured from material 'that requires comparatively little processing. Many wrenches are forged and this process is believed to be more expensive than the process of forming parts by stamping from sheet material and assembling several ply thereof to give desired proportions and strength. To this end, applicant discloses a modication of his invention, as shown in Figs. 6 to S, inclusive. Herein the body portion il, wings il' and wing extensions iS and it are identical with the structure of the corresponding parts already described. A swingable jaw l2 is of three parts or layers, the outer parts i3 being formed with identical heads li and having their inner edges tted or formed with sets of teeth l5 and 4l. Beyond the jaw pivot 22, parts i3 are formed with identical lugs 13. Between the parts i3 is located a further jaw part is which, with the exception of teeth it and lll' and a hub portion 5l, is co-extensive with said outer parts. The hub portion 5l provides a gear segment having teeth 52.

Parts llt and di) may be made into a unit to form the entire jaw i2 by means of suitably located securing pins or rivets Carried by the pin 3B, between the wing extensions i8, is a three part wheel 5cl. The outer parts 55 of this wheel are identical and include circumferential teeth 5l'. The intermediate part 58 of this wheel is or" somewhat lesser diameter and is formed with i teeth 59 which mesh with the teeth 52 of the movable jaw t2. The three parts of the wheel are secured together by pins or rivets 6l. Operation of this modied wrench is similar to operation oi the wrench rst described.

Although applicant has shown and described only two modifications of his invention, it will be understood that variations of the structure by which to adapt the invention to wrenches of diiierent proportions may be made and are contemplated insofar as such variations are within the scope o the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which desire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. A wrench comprising a handle, pairs of extensions rigid with one end of said handle, a first jaw in the form oi a wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed pivot between one pair oi' said extensions, a second jaw, one end portion of said second jaw being mounted on a nxed pivot between another pair of said extensions, a spring normally urging said second jaw into a position of close proximity with said rst jaw, and meshed teeth on said jaw, said teeth efecting rotation of said first jaw when the pivotal position of said second jaw is altered.

2. A wrench comprising a handle, pairs of extensions rigid with one end of said handle, a first jaw in the form or" a wheel mounted on a fixed pivot between one pair of said extensions, a second jaw, one end portion of said second jaw being mounted on a nxed pivot carried by another pair of said extensions, meshed teeth on said jaws, said teeth eiecting rotation of said wheel when the pivotal position oi said second jaw is altered, a spring normally urging said second jaw into close proximity with said wheel, and finger actuated means for pivoting said second jaw into an extended operative position against tension of said spring.

3. A wrench comprising a handle, pairs of adjacent extensions rigid with and extending from one end of said handle, a nrst jaw, said jaw taking the form of a toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation about a fixed pivot carried by one pair of said extensions, a second jaw, a ixed pivot carried by another pair of said extensions and mounting said second jaw, teeth on said second jaw adjacent one end thereof, said teeth normally meshing with the teeth of said wheel and operable to effect rotation of said wheel when said second jaw is moved about its pivot, and finger actuated means for pivoting said second jaw.

l. A wrench comprising a handle, pairs of adjacent extensions rigid with and extending from one end of said handle, a irst jaw, said jaw taking the form of a toothed wheel and being mounted on a iixed pivot carried Aby one pair of said extensions, a second jaw, said second jaw being mounted adjacent one end thereof on a fixed pivot'ior movement between another pair oi said extensions, teeth on said second jaw adjacent said end, said teeth normally meshing with the teeth of said wheel and operable to eiect rotation of said wheel when said second jaw is pivoted, a lug on said second jaw, a spring carried by said handle and engaged with said lug and normally urging said second jaw into close proximity with said wheel, said lug being manually operable to pivot said second jaw into an extended position with respect to said wheel and against the tension of ksaid spring.

5, A wrench comprising a handle,a pair of adjacent extensions rigid with and extending from one end of said handle, a rst jaw, said jaw taking the form of a toothed wheel and being mounted on a xed pivot carried by one of said extensions, a second jaw, said second jaw being mounted intermediate its ends upon a iixed pivot carried by another of said extensions, teeth on said second jaw adjacent the pivot thereof, said teeth normally meshing with the teeth of said wheel and operable to eiect rotation of said wheel when said second jaw is moved about its pivot, a lug forming an extension of an end of said second jaw, a spring carried by said handle engaged with said lug and normally urging said second jaw into proximity with said Wheel, said second jaw being pivotally movable to a position to render said spring ineffective and disengage the teeth of said wheel from the teeth of said second jaw.

6. A wrench comprising a handle, pairs of extensions integral with one end of said handle, a rst jaw, said jaw taking the form of a wheel mounted on a fixed pivot between one pair of said extensions, gripping teeth on the circumferential edge of said wheel, a second jaw, fixed pivotal means mounting said second jaw between another pair of said extensions, gripping teeth on one end of said second jaw, further teeth on an intermediate portion of said second jaw engaged with the teeth of said wheel and being eiective to rotate said wheel during pivotal movement of said second jaw, spring means operable to urge the gripping teeth of said second jaw into proximity with the teeth of said wheel, and nger actuated means for moving said second jaw into an extended position with respect to said wheel and against tension of said spring means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 11,459 Woelfel Dec. 18, 1894 504,232 McKercher Aug. 29, 1893 1,400,451 Morgan Dec. 13, 1921 1,406,467 Matthey Feb. 14, 1922 1,593,588 Moore July 27, 1926 1,640,265 Crow Aug. 23, 1927 1,733,273 Parker Oct. 29, 1929 1,970,403 Sorenson Aug. 14, 1934 

